A “hormonal” wife stabbed her husband in the chest for falling asleep while she was talking about her life problems.

But her victim, and partner of 21 years, says the knife attack was a “one-off” caused by the menopause.

Canterbury Crown Court heard how Deborah and Barrie Stallard had been drinking at a pub before returning to their mobile home at New Beach Holiday Park in Dymchurch.

Prosecuting, Caroline Knight told how Mrs Stallard then began discussing her personal life - when her husband seemed to drift off.

“She started to talk about some problems she was experiencing at the time, but he appeared to fall asleep - this irritated her,” said Ms Knight.

“She threw a number of items at him and then stabbed him in the chest. It was a penetrative knife wound but thankfully there was no damage to the lungs.

“She also sustained injuries but they were self-inflicted.”

Mr Stallard, 51, required emergency medical treatment for the injury.

But at a sentencing hearing on Friday, he begged the judge not to put his wife behind bars - blaming the violent outburst on her menopausal symptoms.

“The incident was a one-off,” explained Mr Stallard in a victim impact statement read by defence barrister Anna Lampard.

“It was created by the two of us drinking alcohol and my wife suffering with the menopause.”

Following the attack on April 22 last year, the defendant was set bail conditions that prohibited her from living with her partner.

“I request that my wife is not given a prison sentence…”

But Mr Stallard - who was in attendance at the hearing on Friday - said these restrictions have been more damaging to their relationship than the incident itself.

“Now a year later, we are only allowed to communicate by mobile phone,” continued Mr Stallard in his statement.

“There is no reason for this to continue. I request that my wife is not given a prison sentence and that we can live together as a happily married couple again.”

Mrs Stallard was charged with wounding with intent and criminal damage.

But she entered a guilty plea to the lesser charge of unlawful wounding at a pre-trial preparation hearing on March 15, which the Crown Prosecution Service accepted.

The criminal damage charge was later dropped.

“The menopause and the hormonal effect was the main cause of this event...”

The court heard that Mrs Stallard, 54, has one conviction for assault occasioning actual bodily harm, for which she received a 12-month community order in 2008 and that she was cautioned for the same offence in 2005.

Mrs Stallard attended the proceedings wearing a white blouse and remained straight-faced and silent throughout.

Mitigating, Ms Lampard said immediately following the stabbing, her client called the emergency services, stayed by her husband side until they arrived and told police what she had done.

“In a 21-year relationship there have never been any incidents between them,” said Ms Lampard.

“She has shown remorse - genuine remorse - about her actions.

“It was, in my submission, the menopause and the hormonal effect that that created that was the main cause of this event. There is a supporting statement from her GP.

“[Mr and Mrs Stallard] have been unable to reside with each other for over a year due to the bail conditions imposed.

“They are both keen to move on from this incident.”

Handing down Mrs Stallard’s sentence, Judge Simon James acknowledged how her husband had, since the crime took place, remained opposed to her prosecution.

“He is more concerned with you receiving the help you need rather than punishment,” the judge said.

"But I take the view that the incident falls to be sentenced for the protection of the public.

“I accept that you are genuinely remorseful and that your struggles were linked to you coming to terms with your menopausal symptoms.

“But any assault with a knife is serious because, whether intended or not, it can cause life-altering impact.

“This is so serious that it demands the imposition of a custodial sentence.

“But taking account of what I see to be a real chance of rehabilitation, I am satisfied that that sentence can be suspended.

“I am exercising a degree of conscious mercy in this case and giving you the chance I think you deserve."

Stallard was handed a nine-month custodial sentence suspended for two years with conditions.

She must complete 100 hours of unpaid work in 12 months and 20 rehabilitation activity requirement sessions.

Mrs Stallard declined to comment when approached by KentOnline.